April 20, 2000 - LION’S EYE - Page 5 ... SUMMER 2000 Bob’s Ultimate Summer Movie Guide 2000 By Bob Dugan Lion’s Eye Staff Writer The summer movie season is almost upon us. The big gun movies of the year from every major studio are hitting the silver screen from the end of April to the end of August. Big stars like Mel Gibson, Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, Oscar winner Angelina Jolie, John Travolta and Nicholas Cage are showcasing their talent. Great directors like John Woo, Wolfgang Petersen, Ridley Scott, and the Farelly brothers are releasing features. Every type of movie for almost ev- ery type of person is available, from comedy to computer animation to serious drama to hardcore action to sci-fi adventure. It’s going to be another huge summer for Hollywood. Here is a preview featuring the biggest of the big. GLADIATOR (May 5, R): Russel Crowe stars as General Maximus in this Ancient Rome-era action film. After being kicked out of Rome by the evil emperor (Joaquin Phoenix) he is banished to become a slave. Maximus trains to be a gladiator and heads back to Rome to compete in the Coliseum games. Ridley Scott, best known for Alien and Blade Runner, is directing, and the buzz is extremely high. This film should kick off the summer in grand fashion. BATTLEFIELD EARTH (May 12, PG-13): John Travolta stars as the ten foot tall alien villain Terl in this sci-fi adventure based on the epic novel by Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard. The plot involves the Psychlos. an evil Marnie Ohs (junior, Business): “I'll be taking a class, working and spending some quality time with my family.” : Chris Dale (junior, Sports Management): “m doing an internship with Michael Harris Consulting. They do product placement and arrange celebrity endorsements for several athletes.” alien race who take over Earth and enslave humanity. Barry Pepper plays Johnnie Goodboy Tyler, a human from the Rocky Mountains who wages war against the aliens. Warner Brothers bought the film’s distribution rights, but rumors still persist that Scientology members funded it. Most agree that the film will disappoint, but even if it turns out good expect the Scientology aspect to receive all of the press. bury Jarnes Bond films in the dust, but to become the best action film of the year. GONE IN 60 SECONDS (June 9, R): Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duval, Delroy Lindo, and Giovanni Ribisi star in this re-make of the little known 1974 action film of the same name. Cage’s brother owes money to the mob, so Cage and his crew attempt to pull off one last heist that involves stealing fifty cars in one night. The film “It’s going to be another huge summer for Hollywood.” DINOSAUR (May 19, PG): It cost Disney around $200 million to create this film about a dinosaur that leads its family to safety while a killer comet threatens extinction. The film is computer animated like Toy Story and features the voices of Keifer Sutherland, D.B. Sweeney, Della Reese and Julianna Marguiles. The lucky few that have attended early test screenings admit that while the plot may be mediocre, the computer animation is incredible. Should be a solid hit for kids. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (May 24, R): John Woo is arguably the best action director of all time. In Hong Kong he made it big with the ultra-violent actioneers Hard Boiled, The Killer, and Bullet in the Head. In the U.S. he directed Hard Target, Broken Arrow, and 1997’s Face/Off. This time he’s directing Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Anthony Hopkins, and Thandie Newton in the sequel to Brian DePalma’s decent silver screen adaptation of the classic TV series. A double crossing member of Ethan Hunt’s (Cruise) team gets a hold of a German manufactured virus that threatens the globe. With a motorcyle chase in Australia and mountain climbing in Utah, MI:2 looks to not only may look lame, but with The Rock producer Jerry Bruckheimer on board it should at least entertainthe mainstream. ME, MYSELF, AND IRENE (June 23, PG-13): Bobby and Peter Farelly were the ingenious minds behind There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, and Kingpin. Their latest flick stars Jim Carrey as a Rhode Island state trooper with multiple personality disorder. Both of his personalities fall in love with the same woman (Renee Zelweger). Eventually he loses his medication and all hell breaks loose. The early word is that this is the all around best Farelly brothers films, which is saying a lot. Expect some hilarious, entertaining, vulgar fun. THE PATRIOT (June 30, R): From the writer of Saving Private Ryan and the director of Godzilla comes this action packed Revolutionary War epic. Mel Gibson snagged $25 million to star as a revenge seeking South Carolina father who takes up the fight against the British redcoats. Dean Devlin, the producer, and Roland Emmerich, the director, were the brains behind Independence Day and Stargate, so it will be interesting to see how they fare in making a serious war film. Still, with What Are Your Plans For The Summer? Chris Bartolome (freshman, Liberal Arts): “I'm going home to Dallas and ‘Jonathan P. Carter (junior, Liberal Arts): “Fixing hot tubs and flying hot air working for the North Texas PGA golf tournaments.” balloons.” Gibson in Braveheart mode, expect a wild ride. THE PERFECT STORM (June 30, R): Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot, Air Force One) directed this true story based on the best selling book by Sebastian Junger. George Clooney stars as the captain of the Andrea Gail, a sword fishing boat that was caught in a killer storm off the coast of Gloucester, Massachuetts, in the Fall of 1991. Co- starring Mark Whalberg, John C. Reilly, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, it promises a ton of special effects including a 100 foot ocean wave. Expect one of the summer’s biggest hits and best filrns. : X-MEN (July 14, PG-13): Based on the well known Marvel comic book, this film involves Wolverine joining the superhero goup the X-Men while they battle the sinister Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Bryan Singer, who directed The Usual Suspects and the awful Apt Pupil is behind the lens. The cast includes Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Famke Janssen (Jean Grey), Anna Paquin (Rogue), and Halle Berry (Storm) as the X-Men. Ian McKellan (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn- Stamos as the blue skinned Mystique, and Darth Maul himself, Ray Park (Toad), make up the villains. There are plenty of unknowns in_the film, including Hugh Jackrnan as Wolverine and Tyler Mane as Sabretooth. 20th Century Fox hopes X-Men will become their next franchise, so get ready for a major marketing blitz come July. When the dust seffles though, expect the film to only entertain kids and comic book fans. Andrew Lowry (freshman, Urban Ed.): “I plan on going to London with Penn State for the International Studies Program, then working at Kohl's.” James Johnson (freshman, undecided): “I plan on working at the airport.”
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